GREGORY VIGNAL has never been brave enough for the run in Pamplona but he is playing matador to bullish Premier League wingers.

It is a job he loves above all else – and he has the advice of Eric Cantona to thank for giving him the impetus for a return to England and a third chance to establish himself at the very highest level.

As well as his literary interests, TV advertising voice-overs and film-making, Cantona is a huge bullfighting fanatic and can be regularly spotted at venues in the south of France, which is where Vignal bumped into him this summer while he was watching his own matador friend Juan Batista dance with the raging bulls.

Cantona may be a huge fan of the gory spectacle but he remains an even bigger supporter of the theatre that is the Premier League. And it was on his friendly advice to quit Lens and get back to England as quickly as possible that Vignal linked up again with his former Rangers manager Alex McLeish at Birmingham City.

He is delighted to have swapped one bullring for the bullring that is St Andrews, where he will make his home debut tonight against Portsmouth, the last club he played for in the top flight here before his rash decision to return home.

“I am glad to be back and a lot of it is down to Eric Cantona . We bumped into each other at a bullfight in the south of France. I knew he was a huge fan and I was watching my good friend. I don’t really know Cantona but, when he talks, you listen. He told me that I had to get back to England and to the Premier League,” said Vignal.

“He just said that he was a no one when he played in France, that the people did not really want to know him, but in England he was a king when he was at United.

“I understood what he said. And I missed England a lot. I regretted going back to France after Portsmouth. It was a mistake. I had worked so hard to get to the Premier League and then I gave it up.

“It was great to bump into Eric, because he gave me the motivation to do something about getting back to the Premier League. I’d much rather be facing Premier League wingers than fighting bulls.”

Vignal made a phone call to McLeish and, after some frantic late paperwork, he was cleared to move on loan and make his debut in the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford.

It was a tough introduction to his third life in the top flight, but one Vignal believes he is more mature to cope with since moving to Liverpool to sign for Gerard Houllier as an 18-year-old.

He never really made the breakthrough in five seasons at Liverpool and had mixed experiences at Rangers and Portsmouth before joining Lens.

“When I was at Liverpool I was too eager. I wanted it all to happen. Gerard Houllier told me to be patient, but it is hard when you are 18. I understand now. I know that I should never have left England. I want to make the most of this chance,” he said.

Vignal is expected to be joined at St Andrews in the next few days by Spanish midfielder Michel, 23, as they close in on a £3m deal . Blues owner David Sullivan is trying to negotiate a staged payment deal after his club Sporting Gijon agreed to sell their prized asset.

Three other Spanish clubs are interested in hijacking the deal, but the player has made it clear he is determined to move to St Andrews.

“I think a fee has been agreed but we are just waiting. Hopefully we will be able to get the deal done because he can be an influential player for us,” said McLeish.